Sandwich-cake machine.



G. W. HITCHNER.

SANDWICH CAKE MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED MAY 11913. 1. 1 14 1 3 Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS SHEET 1. d- (O G. W. HITOHNER.

SANDWICH CAKE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9.1913.

1, 1 14, 1 38. Patented 0m. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEIT 2 WITNESSES:

INYEN TOR m ciwsz ermfi iiczzner,

C. W. HITOHNER. SANDWICH CAKE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 91913.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

4 SHEETS*SHEET 3.

I TTORNEY G. W. HITOHNER.

SANDWICH CAKE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9,1913.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914 4 SHEETS-"SHEET 4.

WI TIVESSE3:

UNITED STATES PATENT onrron CHESTER W. HITCHNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SANDWICH-CAKE MACHINE.

Application filed May 9, 1913.

mechanism for depositing on a cake the proper quantity of filling before receiving theother cake thereupon.

A further object is to provide an improvedmachine of this character which is capable of autmi'iatically forn'iing a relatively large number of sandwich cakes in a relatively short space of time, and which performs the work with the minimum of parts as the machine is of extreme simplicity and strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a. top plan view. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower run of the endless conveyor illustrating the rotary ejector compelling the cakes todrop from the endless conveyor; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section of one of the cake channels. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale illustrating the filling or cream distributing receptacle. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the cake carrying frames. Fig. 8 is a view in cross section through the center of the cake carrier illustrating its manner of attach ment to the endless chains, and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating a modification.

1 represents a frame .roviding bearings for parallel shafts 2 an 3. Upon each of these shafts 2 and 3, two relatively large sprocket wheels 4 are mounted and serve to Specification of Letters Patent.

below Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Serial No. 766,581.

drive. apair of endless sprocket chains 5 which support cake frames (3 and constitute an endless conveyor. These cake frames 6 are formed with rectangular depressions 7 of a size to receive a cake illustrated at 8 and the depressed portion 7 of each frame is formed with a. rectangular opening 9. Later-ally projecting arilis 10 are formed integrally with the frame and are removably connected by screws 11 with lugs 12 on thelinks of chains 5, so that the frames may be removed from the chains, and other fran'ies substituted therefor.

Each frame 6 is provided with four pins 18 having their inner surfaces in line with the walls of the depression 7, and said pins and said depression of a combined height to conform to the thickness of a cake. Rather this is true of the rear pair of pins as the forward pair are preferably slightly shorter than the rear pair, as will more fully hereinafter appeain One end of each frame 6 is bent upwardly to form a lip 1 1 which overlaps the flat end 1.5 of the end of the adjacent frame,

so that these frames when in a horizontal line constitute acontinuous surface in alinement, especially is this when the frames are reversed as shown in Fig. 6.

A plate 16 is supported by the frame 1 below the lower run of the endless conveyor,

and this plate 16 curves around thesprocket wheels 4 on shaft 2 as shown at 17, and is spaced therefrom the proper distance to permit the longer pins to rub thereagainst and allow the cake in the frame to slide against the plate without breaking.

.A cake guiding column 18 is supported by an arched bracket 19 and is located above the upper run of the conveyor. These columns are of a shape in cross section to conform to the shape of the cakes 8, and at their lower ends are provided withangles 20 which are narrower than the column 1-8 and are ad ustable vertically with relation to the column, so that they may be spaced,

the lower end of the column but slightl in excess of the thickness of the cake. To permit this adjustment, the angle 20 is provided with a slot 21' through which a bolt 22 on the column projects'and a wing nut 23 on said bolt is adapted to clamp the angle at any adjustment.

It is to be understoodthat the angle 20 is suiiiciently narrow to allow the pairs .ofpins 13 to pass on opposite sides thereof, but the than the rear pair as above set forth.

'cake as it passes around sprocket wheels 2 is using this term turned upside down and cannot fall out of the frame, because of plate 17.

As the cake-is carried along the lower run of the conveyer, it is moved beneath a receptacle 24 containing cream or other filling 25.v I would have it understood that in filling, I use it in its broadest sense to cover any material which may be used for the purpose. As the cakes are moved beneath receptacle 24, the filling 25 fills the opening 9 in the frame, so that the filling is on the cake, but is spaced from the edges of the cake a distance equal to the distance between the walls of the opening 9 and the walls of th-efldepressicn 7.

' shaft on shaft 3, so that scraper 26 ispivotally connected to the rear wall of the receptacle as shown at 29, and is adjustable by means of a set screw 30, so that the proper pressure may be had 11 on the conveyer to scrape the surplus of filling off the conveyer and insure an equal distribution to each cake as it passes under the receptacle.

The receptacle 24 is adjustably mounted with relation to the conveyer, one construction which permits such adjustment is illus trated in Fig. 2 in which slottedhangers 31 are provide I on the receptacle secured by set screws 32 to the frame.

The cakes 8 with their proper amount of filling arevmoved along plate 16 until they reach the end of this plate and are then dropped upon an endless apron 33. This apron 33 is supported upon drums 34 and a on which one of these drums is mounted, is provided with apulley 36 connected by a crossed belt 37 with a pulley 38 the apron 33 is driven the proper speed;

ins 39 are provided on apron 33, so that the cakes dropped on the frames 6 will be carried on the conveyer between the pins, and these pins 39 cause an upper cake 40 to be removed from the lower end of a column 41 similar in all respedts to the column 18.- The cakes 40 therefore are deposited upon the filling 25 to form the sandwich and the completed sandwich is passed under a gravity pressure roll 42 which exerts suilicient pressure to insure the upper cakes sticking to the filling.

The completed sandwich ca moved or falls oil the end of the The-upper run of the conveyer is, to travel through'a washing tank i g hot-water. -This is accomplished by ay be reapron 33. compelled 43 containsufficiently to dislodge any which may stick v in the frame,

A pulley is secured to turn with thee ector and is connected by an endless belt 51 with a pulley 52 on shaft 3, so that the rotary ejector is driven at the proper speed. It will thus he noted that the cakes are removed first from column 18 and carried in the frame 6, said frames being reversed as they pass around in contact with the curved portion 17 of plate 16, and move alon plate 16 in the reversed position to receive t iercon the filling 25. This cake with the filling is dropped onto apron 33 and pins 39 compel a cake to move from the bottom of column 41 onto the filling, and the sandwich cake thus made is pressed slightly by the roller 42. By reason of the fact that the opening 9 issmaller than the depression 7, the filling does not reach the edgesof the cake, so that the dimension of the filling relative the cake will be restricted.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate a modification in which shaft 2 tary movement by means of an oscillating lever 53 fulcrumed between its ends on the shaft 2 and carrying a pawl 54 engaging a ratchet wheel 55 secured to the shaft 2. Lever 53 is oscillated by a pitman 56 connected to the crank pin 57 by a crank wheel 58 driven by any suitable source of power.

Lever 53 is adjust-ably connected by a link 59 with a receptacle 60 which corresponds in construction to the receptacle 24 above referred to. This receptacle (5O rests upon the lower run of the endless conveyor, and as the conveyer receives an intermittent movement, the receptacle ($0 is reciprocated so that it spreads or wipes the filling onto the cakes.

Various other slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangement of parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I do'not limit myself to the precise details set sider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is: a

An apparatus of the character described, comprising an endless conyeye'r con forth, but cone sisting of'a'series of cake receiving-frames, said frames havin openings therein, means for depositing ca through the openings inthe frames, substaii tially as described.

2. An apparatus of the character de-' scribed, comprising a conveyor consisting a series of cake receiving frames having openings therein, means for depositing cakes in the frames, actuating means for reversing the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes through the openings in the frames after the latter are inverted, substantially as described.

3. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an endless convcyer consisting of a series of cake receiving frames," said frames having openings thereln, each frame having pins pro ecting therefroimthe pins at one end of the frame'longer than the others. means for depositing cakes in the frames, and means for applying filling to s inthe depositing cakes in the frames, actuating means for reversing the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes through the openings in the frames after the latter are inverted, substantially as described.

An apparatus of the character described, comprising an endless conveyer con sisting of a series of cake receiving frames, said frames having openings therein, said frames having cake receiving depressions therein, means for depositing cakes in the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes through the openings in the frames, substantially as described.

6. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a conveyer consisting of a series of cake receiving frames having openings therein, said frames havin cake receiving depressions therein, means fhr de-' positing cakes in the frames, actuating means for reversing the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes through the openings in the frames after the latter are inverted, substantially as described.

7. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an endless conveyor consisting of a series of cake receiving frames, said frames havin openings therein, said frames having cake receiving depressions thcrein, and pins on the frames at opposite sides of the depressions, the pins at one side of the depression longer than the pins at the other side of the depression, means for depositing -akes in the frames, and means for es in the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes.

depression, means for applying filling to the'cakes through the openings in the frames, substantially as de- 8. An apparatus of the character c1escribed, comprising a conveyer consisting of a series of cake receiving "frames having openings therein, said frames having cake receiving depressions therein, and pins on the frames at opposite sides of thedepressions, the Plus at oneside of thedepression longer than the pins at the other side of the depression, means for depositing cakes in the frames, actuating means for reversing the frames, and meansfor applying filling to the cakes through the. openingsin the frames after the latter are inverted, substantially as described. i

9 An apparatus of the character de-- scribed, comprising an endless conveyer consisti'n of a Series of cake receiving frames, said 'ames having openings therein, said frames having cake receiving depressions therein sides of the depressions, the pins at one side of thedeprcssion longer than the pins at the positing cakes in the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes through the openings in the frames, the ends of adjacent f 'ames overlapping each other, substantially as described.

10. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a conveyer consisting of a series of cake receiving frames having openings therein, said frames having cake receiving depressions therein, and pins on the frames at opposite sides of the depres sions, the pins at one side' of the de ression longer than the pins at the other si e of the depositing cakes in the frames, actuating means for reversing the frames, and means for applying filling t0 the cakes through the openings in the frames after the latter are inverted, the ends of adjacent, frames overlapping each other, substantially as described.

11.. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an endless conveyor consistin r of a series of cake reccivingframes, said rames having openings therein, said frames having cake receiving depressions therein and plus on the frames at opposite sides of the depressions, the pins at one side of the depression longer than the pins at the other side of the depression, means for depositing cakes in the frames, means for applying filling to the cakes through the openlngs in the frames, the ends ofadjacent frames overlapping each other, endless chains at opposite sides of the frames, and laterally projecting arms on the frames removably secured to said chains, substantially as described.

12. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a conveyer consistin of and'pins 'on'th e frames at opposite other side of'the depression, means for de- 9 fafseries of cake receiving frames having openings therein, said frames having cake I after the latter, are inverted, the ends of adreceiving depressions therein and pins on the? frames'at OPP S te sides of the' depressions, the pins at one side of'the depression 1 longer-than the pins at the other side of the depression, means for depositing cakes in the frames, actuating means for reversing the frames, and means for applying filling to the cakes through the openings in the frames jacent frames overlappingeach other, endglesfs chains at opposite sides of the frames;

and" laterally pro ecting armson the frames remoyably secured to said chains, substantially as described.

1,3." In an apparatus of the character de- I i scribed, thecombination with a cake-guiding column, having an angle secured thereto and projecting below its lower end, said angle narrower than the column and spaced below thelowerend thereof a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the cake, of an endless c o nveyer below the column, said conveyer comprising a series of cake receiving frames, and a pair of pins on each end of each frame, the pair of pms at the rear end of' 'e'ach frame longer than the pins at the forward end of the frame anti -adapted to 'niove below the colunin at opposite sides of the angle and draw a cake from the column intoithe frame, substantially as described.

14. :In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a cake guiding column, having an an le secured thereto and projecting below its ower end, said angle narrower than the column and spaced below the lowerend thereof a distance slightly "greater than the thickness of the cake, of an through said openings, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

I OH STER W. HITCHNER. Witnesses:

MARY E. Drrros,

CHAS. E. Porrs. 

